FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Born at 26 weeks at just 2 pounds, 9 ounces, Noah Kingston Gray may be the youngest tike ever born at UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital in Longmont. And on Monday night, his mom got to hold him for the very first time.
Little Noah was born 14 weeks premature after doctors pushed up his mother, Jennifer’s, due date when she came down with a blood infection. The infection affected the baby.
The boy’s father, Stephen, told Denver7 that Noah struggled to breathe after doctors delivered him. He wasn’t crying, but rather making little grunting sounds.
“It almost became real at that point. You kind of hear and go, ‘Oh gosh.’ I was obviously scared for him,” Stephen said. “But once they got him over there, they started working on him and they did a good job.”
The tiny boy was immediately transferred to UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins. Stephen credits doctors at both hospitals for saving his wife and their baby boy.
“Today was the first day I saw him with his eyes open…then I got to hold him…and hear him cry,” Jennifer said.
“It was amazing to watch, it really was,” said Stephen, who hasn’t held his son yet, as doctors say they don’t want Noah to be overstimulated and to bond with his mother first.
GoFundMe
As medical bills mount, well wishers are reaching out to help.
A GoFundMe Account https://www.gofundme.com/5aerzo0 [gofundme.com] has been set up to help with expenses.
Gray says Noah will have to stay at the hospital until June.
Both he and Ms. Copp say they’re OK with that, they just want their baby boy to get healthier and stronger.
